Purchasing Agent II

NC State Ports Authority; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

North Carolina State Ports Authority is seeking a skilled Purchasing Agent II to support multiple departments in sourcing, bidding, negotiating, and contracting for commodities and IT goods. The role emphasizes compliance with NC statutes, vendor management, and contract administration.

Responsibilities include reviewing requisitions, issuing RFQs/IFBs/RFPs, conducting market research, and processing SAP procurement documents.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or associate degree with two years of related experience, or equivalent combination.
• Three or more years of procurement experience preferred.
• Knowledge of NC statutes related to purchases and contracts is a plus.
• Ability to draft scopes of work for RFIs and IFBs.
• Strong analytical skills for bid comparison and pricing.

Responsibilities

• Requisition review for accuracy, compliance and completeness.
• Prepare and administer RFQs, IFBs and RFPs in line with NC laws and port policies.
• Conduct market research on assigned commodities.
• Interview suppliers, develop vendor relations and evaluate performance.
• Negotiate and administer contracts; ensure state requirements compliance.
• Ensure purchases align with statewide term contracts; obtain quotes for non-contract items.
• Coordinate SAP procurement, POs and contract documents.
• Coordinate with warehouse staff and verify material availability.
• Investigate complaints and ensure timely delivery; engage stakeholders as needed.

Skills

Procurement

Vendor management

Contract negotiation

Bid analysis

SAP

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Associate degree + 2 years experience

Tools

SAP Procurement

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The mission of the North Carolina State Ports Authority is to bethe gateway to global markets and to enhance the economy of North Carolina by supporting and improving the state's logistics network.

Our employees are integral to our mission to help businesses succeed. It takes a team of unified people working together to make our facilities attractive to shippers, carriers, and other businesses. Our customer-focused attitude is clearly evident through our people. We invite you to learn more about a career with North Carolina Ports.

Summary of Duties:

Under supervision, working in a team environment, Purchasing Agent II performs professional procurement work in support of assigned departments across the North Carolina State Ports Authority.This position operates with a high level of independence and judgment to source, bid, negotiate and contract for a wide range of commodities, equipment, materials, services and IT goods and services.Work includes developing scope of work, conducting competitive bidding processes, ensuring compliance with North Carolina General Statutes and Statewide Term Contracts, and supporting internal clients through the full procurement lifecycle.

This role requires strong research abilities, excellent communication skills and a commitment to continuous improvement.Purchasing Agent II serves as a key resource for procurement guidance, vendor management, contract administration, and enforcement of state purchasing policies.

This position will develop and administer requests for proposals and invitations for bids along with requisitions and purchase orders.

Description of Work:

• Requisition Review – Receive, review and validate requisitions for accuracy, compliance and completeness.
• Competitive Bidding – Prepare and administer Request for Quotes (RFQs), Invitations for Bids (IFBs) and Request for Proposals (RFPs) in accordance with NC purchasing laws and NC Ports Policies.
• Market Research – Conduct through research on assigned commodities, including gathering descriptive literature, pricing and market trends.
• Vendor Management – Interview suppliers, develop vendor relationships, investigate sources of supply and evaluate vendor performance.
• Contract Administration – Compose, negotiate and administer contracts; provide recommendation on contract language; ensure compliance with state requirements.
• State Contract Compliance – Ensure purchases comply with NC Statewide term contracts; obtain competitive quotes for non-contract items.
• Bid Analysis- Invite quotations, examine bids, compare specifications and prepare award recommendations.
• SAP Procurement – Process requisitions, purchase orders, and contract documents using SAP Procurement and Inventory modules.
• Inventory/Warehouse Support – Coordinate with warehouse staff, verify availability of materials and support inventory process as needed.
• Issue Resolution – Investigate complaints, follow up on outstanding orders, and ensure timely delivery of correct materials and services.
• Stakeholder Engagement – Collaborate with departments to understand operational needs, product applications, and project requirements.
• Continuous Improvement – Participate in refinement of specifications, procurement processes, and documentation standards.
• All other duties as assigned by management.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree; or associate’s degree with two years of related experience; or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Three or more years of procurement experience are preferred.
• Experience with reviewing and interpreting NC general statutes as it relates to purchases and contracts.
• Ability to develop scopes of work for Request for Proposals and/or Invitations for Bid
• Strong analytical skills for comparing bids and pricing.
• Ability to negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery schedules.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in a fast-paced multitasked environment.
• Professionalism and sensitivity to confidential information and ethical procurement practices.
• Nationally recognized procurement certification is preferred (i.e., CPPO, CPPB, CPSM, etc.)
• North Carolina Contract Manager certification preferred or the ability and motivation to acquire certification within the first year of employment.
• Ability and motivation to pursue additional certifications, including, Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), NIGP-Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP) within first three years of employment.
• Must have a valid North Carolina driver’s license and meet TWIC security requirements.